Peters



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v C. C. PEOK. APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND. GONOENTRATINGLIQUIDSJ No. 329,072. Patented 0-012. 27, 1885.

N. PUEns, PMfllrLilhOzmphun Washinglun. DJ;

(No Model.) a sheets-s eet 2. C. C. PEUK.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND GONGENTRATING LIQUIDS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lllhogmphon Wuhingtum D. C,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

0.0. PECK. APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND UONCENTRATING LIQUIDS.

Patented 0013527 1885.

NY PETERS, Pmmumv hm, Washinglon, uv c.

: arr-no. *SIATES arnn rr trier...

CASSIUS G. PEGK, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR DIjSTILLING AND CONCENTRATING LIQUlDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,072, dated October 27, 1885. Application filed June 29, 1885. Serial No. 170,106. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CASSIUS O. PEo a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Distilling or Concentrating Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

'Myimprovements relate to that class of apparatus for either distilling or concentrating liquids in which the heat primarily imparted to the condensingliquid in the first of a series of closed condensing chambers is de signed to be used to vaporize such condens ing-liquid, the vapor of which is condensed in a secondary condensing-chamber, thereby in turn evaporating the condensingliquid contained therein, and so on continuously until the temperature has been reduced to a degree beyond which it cannot be further utilized profitably. The efficiency of such a system of continuous distillation or concentration of liquids is dependent on the degree in which the apparatus employedis capable of utilizing and rendering operative the Whole amount of caloric primarily imparted thereto.

One feature of my invention consists in the special means provided, by which, relatively speaking, all excess of heat is abstracted from the liquid of condensation at each step in the process and imparted to the condensing-liquid to assist in vaporizing the latter in turn. By thus practically utilizing all the caloric originally imparted to effect the first operation of distillation, no matter what such original tem- I perature and pressure may be, except only that which escapes from the apparatus by radiation, I am enabled to'materially increase the number of consecutive distillations and condensations, which may be effected continuously and simultaneously in a single system of apparatus. The relative temperatures of the condensing-liquids in adjoining conden sing-chambers may thus be regulated so as to vary but slightly one from the other, decreasing progressively, for illustration, at the rate of, say, 2 or 3 in each succeeding condenser,

so that it is practicable to effect thirty or more distinct and independent distillations by starting theprocess under pressure or above theboilingpoint, and continuing it below the boiling-point, or in cacao, as hereinafter described.

Another feature of my invention consists in means for finally imparting all the heat remaining after the several consecutive distillations to the condensing-liquid used in the last chamber, and utilizing it for the purpose of evaporating liquids under atmospheric pressure, by means of a continuous closed circulation of water or other equivalent liquid. This feature, in conjunction with that of extracting the excess of heat from the liquids of distillation, enables me to utilize and render effective in work the full equivalent of the amount of heat primarily imparted to the apparatus to effect the first act of distillation, less only that small percentage which is necessarily lost by radiation, and which loss may be guarded against by proper and well-known means of insulation.

A feature in this connection consists in automatically cooling the condensingliquid in the last condenser by means of a gravity-circulation system, which also affords a convenient means of utilizing the heat for purposes of evaporating, as hereinbefore set forth. I also utilize the heat contained in the products of combustion escaping from the boiler-furnace by causing them to pass underneath the evaporating-pan last referred to before they finally escape, thus still further economizing the heat necessarily employed in the process.

In effecting the discharge of the liquid of condensation from the high pressure condensers, I pass the discharge-pipes through 8 the condensing-liquid-supply pipes for a distance sufficient to enable the condensing-liquid to extract all excess of heat from the liquid of condensation, and to insure this result I regulate the discharge of the liquid of condensation from the lower extremity of the dischargepipes automatically, preferably by utilizing the expansion or contraction of the pipes to control the discharge-openings, as hereinafter set forth, or by other suitable means for regulating the discharge of such liquids of condensation.

For the purpose of maintaining the vacuum in the low-pressure condensers, I employ what is known as the Torricellian column. Iam I00 aware that such columns have heretofore been used for a similar purpose in connection with other apparatus. I am also aware that the discharge of the liquid of condensation has been utilized for the purpose of raising the temperature of the feed of condensing-liquid. I do not claim either of these arrangements broadly. In this respect myinvention consists in the'means of effecting both the said results simultaneously and automatically, and in a more simple and advantageous manner than heretofore; and my improvement consists in constructing. and arranging such tube with'an outer shell or jacket connected with the condensing-liquid supply in such manner that the latter is caused to pass upward in contact with the vacuum-tube for the whole or a portion of its length sufficient to enable the condensingliquidto absorb from the liquid of condensation the excess of heat contained therein as compared with the temperature of the condensing liquid.

As an additional precaution against the impairment of the vacuum, I provide means for elevating the temperature of the liquid to be distilled (and which constitutes the condensing-liquid) to a degree sufficient to expel all air or gases therefrom, and then recooling the same by causing it to impart its excess of heat to the feed-supply, substantially as herein set forth, before introducing, it into the con densers, thus dispensing-almost entirely with the use of exhaust-pumps, except for the purpose of first creating the vacuum preparatory to setting the apparatus in operation.

My invention also includes means for discharging the contents of each condenser, when desired, independently, withoutimpairingthe vacuum therein.

I am aware that the Torricellian tube has been used in connection with a vapor-chamber interposed between a vacuum pan and its pump for the purpose of collecting and effecting the continuous discharge of depositions of solid matter from the said supplemental vapor-chamber; but such arrangement is not the equivalent of my invention, since my device is' designed to effect the discharge, when desired, of the condensing-liquid from around i the condenser contained'in the vaporizingchamber in such manner that the said chamber may be refilled without impairing the vacuum.

My apparatus is applicable not only to the distillation or condensation of a single liquid,

but also to the simultaneous concentration or distillation of various liquids for different purposes-such as the fractional distillation of petroleum, alcohol, &c.since each of the chambers, with its condensers, forms a complete and independent system in itself, which maybe connected with an independent source of supply. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a sectional elevation of a series of evaporatingchambers, &e., sufficient to illustrate the operation of my improvements, it being understood that any desired number of chambers may be combined in the system. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of one of the highpressurechambers and its connections; Fig. 3, a detail section of the stationaryvalve-seat for the discharge-pipe; Fig. 4, a central vertical section taken through the last two lowpressure chambers; Fig. 5, a top view of one of the chambers, with parts broken away to show the arrangement of the condensing-sun faces.

The liquid to be treated is stored in an elevated reservoir, A, so as to cause it to flow through the service-pipe a and into the chambers G (l C C C O by hydrostatic pressure. Where the nature of the liquid requires such treatment, it first passes through a boiler, 13, which elevates its temperature sufficiently'toexpel all atmospheric gases and then forces it upward into the reservoir A; The feed-liquid for the boiler B passes from the supply-pipe b, provided with the valve b, into the lower end of the jacket J, from the upper extremity of which it is conducted by the pipe j, pro- 7 vided with the check-valve 'j, into the lower part of the boiler 13. The level of the liquid in the boiler B is maintained by a float, 12 connected with both the inlet-valve b and discharge valve 1), so that the supply and discharge will be equal. The discharge-valve b is so situated near the upper extremity of the boiler as to leave a steam-space, b above. This steam-space b facilitates the collection and removal of the mixed gases and steam, which may be drawn off for use through the pipe b,'provided with the valve b. The steampressure in the boilerB is utilized to force the liquid'into the storage-tank A, from which latter it is conducted by the service-pipe a to the several chambers G O 0 G 0 O. The pipe (6, which connects the boilerB with tank A, is provided with a check-valve, a The liquid is conveyed in each case from the service-pipe a by means of a transfer-pipe, c,provided with a valve, 0, into the lower part of a vertical jacket, 0,fron1 the upper end of which it is conveyed to the upper part of the vaporizing-chamber by the pipe 0 the inner end of which terminates in a valve, 0*, which is controlled by a float, 0 by which means the level of liquid in the generators is automatically maintained at a suitable height above the surface-condenser D.

Each evaporating-chamber G contains a surface-condenser, D, the space E above which may be designated as the vapor-chamber. The surface-condensers D may be of any de sired form, those shown in the drawings con sisting of a series of vertical pipes, d and-d,

connected at opposite extremities to the annular drums or heads (1 d The interiorpipes, 01, pass through the exteriorpipes, d, and through both drumsd and (1 while the exterior pipes, d, communicate atboth' extremities with the interior of the drums. By this construction the condensing-surface is rendered as large as practicable within a given space, since the condensing-liquid not only surrounds the outer pipes, d, but also circulates through the inner pipes, at. This construction will be understood by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. I am thus enabled to leave the central portion, d of the condenser free and unobstructed without sacrifice of necessary condensing-surface. By thus leavingthe central space, (1, between the condensing-pipes open I facilitate the settling and disposition of solid matter which may be precipitated from the condensingliquid, as the main circulation will occur around the sides of the condenser, leaving the central portion comparatively quiet. This construction also affords convenient access through the man-holes e e for purposes of cleaning or repair.

The liquid of condensation is conveyed from each surface-condenser D by a discharge-pipe, D, which passes through the jacket (2 and deposits the liquid in a suitable receptacle.

Each chamber 0, except the last, 0, is also provided with a pipe, G, for discharging the condensing-liquid when desired, such pipe being provided with a valve, 9, which is closed under ordinary circumstances.

The heat required for effecting the first distillation in the series is derived from the steam-boiler H, Fig. 1, or other convenient source. The steam is conducted by the supply-pipe h, provided with the valve it, into the surface-condenser D in the first evaporatingchamber, G. The water of condensation is discharged through the pipe D, which passes through and is secured to the jacket 0 by suitable flange-packings, f f, at either extremity of thejacket. These packings allow an'inde- 'pendent' movement of pipe D and jacket 0 During the alternate expansion and contraction of the discharge-pipe D its lower end approaches or recedes with relation to a stationary valve seat or abutment, F, various forms of which may be designed. The essential feature in this connection of the parts with relation to each other is that the expansion of the dischargepipe will contract the openingbetween its lower extremity and the said stationary seat, while its contraction will enlarge said opening, thereby regulating the discharge directly and positively by means of the temperature of the liquid. This is to guard against the escape of the water of condensation before it has fully imparted its excess of heat to the supply of liquid ascending through the jacket 0 on its passage to the condensing-chamber above.

As shown in the drawings, the valveseat F may consist of a conical abutment (shown in Fig. 2) projecting more or less into the open lower end of the dischargepipe, or, as shown in Fig. 3, of an external recess, i, into which the end of the discharge-pipe projects more or less, the side walls, i i, of the said recesses being formed with one or more slots or openings, t, which permit of the escape of the liquid. In any case it is desirable to make the valve-seat F adjustable with relation to the end of the dischargepipe. This may be accomplished in the case of the conicalseat shown in Fig. 2 by threading its shank, so that it may be adjusted within the standard or bearing f which is formed with a female screw for this purpose; or where the exterior seat, F, is used it may be suspended between adjusting-screws f, which rest upon the sides of the trough T, or other stationary part of the apparatus, and are secured in the required position by set-nuts f f. It is obvious that other means of adjustment may be substituted without departing from my invention.

As the liquid of condensation descends through the discharge-pipe D it is gradually cooled, by reason of the liquid ascending through the jacket 0 which liquid continues to absorb the free caloricuntil both the ascending and descending liquids are relatively of the same temperature. After having been thus heated to nearly the temperature of the liquid of condensation the condensingliquid passes upward into the chamber 0, to be in turn vaporized and conveyed by the connecting-pipe h into the surface-condenser, situated within the next evaporating-chamber, G in which chamber the operation is repeated, and so on continuously from one evaporating-ch amber to the next succeeding to the end of the series, the only difference being that, in connection with the vacuum-condensing chambers, the automatic discharging devices are somewhat modified in construction in order to preserve the vacuum therein, as hereinafter described. Any desired number of the high-pressure condensers may be combined and used together, or in connection with asuitable number of low-pressure or vacuum condensers. The connectingpipe 72, which conveys the vapor over from the last high-pressure chamber, G to the succeedinglow-pressure condenser containedin chamber G is provided with a pressure-regulator, It, of any ordinary and well-known form,to prevent the possibility of the vapor passing over at a pressure which would destroy the vacuum in the low-pressure chamber 0 After passing through the regulator R the vapor enters the surfacecondenser D, and in condensing imparts its excess of heat to the condensingliquid in the same manner as before; but the liquid of condensation passes into a sealed U- shaped reservoir, which is of sufficient capacity to contain a quantity of liquid equivalent to that which would fill the dischargepipe D, which latter is of such length that, taken in con unction with the height ofthe U reservoir, it constitutes a Torricellian column, which seals the vacuum in the surface-condenser D above and in the vapor chamber E in the last preceding chamber. Were the vacuum perfeet in the condensers, it could not overcome the column of liquid in pipes D, so as to allow air to enter the chambers and destroy the vacuum. A column of liquid will rise in pipes D in exact proportion to the amount of vacuum in the surface-condenser D and vapor chamber'E, and the discharge of the liquid of condensation will be continuous from the leg a of the pipe U so long as liquid is collected in the condensers.

For liquids of lighter weight it is obvious that the pipes D should be proportionately longer, and for liquids of greater specificgravity shorter pipes may be used; also, as there would never be a perfect vacuum in the condensers, it is necessary in practice to have the discharge-pipes only of sufficient length to overcome the greatest amount of vacuum which the special conditionsof use show to be necessarv.

From the short leg of the U-reservoir the liquid of condensation is conveyed away by suitable pipes. For the sake of simplicity in the drawings, only six condensers are shown; but ordinarily more than that number would be incorporated into the system.

The condensation of the vapor in the last chamber, is effected by an independent and continuous circulation of a condensing-liquid, preferably water, through the chamber, and through a system of pipes which are exposed to the cooling action of a liquid contained in a separate tank or reservoir, S. This cooling- ]iquid contained in the separate tank may consist of liquid to be evaporated in an open pan under atmospheric pressure, in which case the heat imparted to the condensing-liquid in effecting the last condensation in the series is utilized to evaporate the liquid in the pan. The last chamber, which becomes simply a condensing-chamber, is maintained constantly full of the condensing-liquid by means of hydrostatic pressure, and a constant circulation is maintained by arranging the exit-pipe s at: the top of the condensing-chamber and the inlet-pipe s at the lower end of the said chanr, her, which arrangement acts to produce a constant circulation of the condensingliquid. An expansion-chamber, S, is introduced in thesystem of pipes s s for the purpose of compensating for any alteration in the bulk of the condensing-liquid contained in the closed circulation. The coils s has sufficient surface exposed to the liquid in pan, and the pan sufficient surface exposed to the air, to convey away the amount of heat nectssary for reducing the temperature to the desired extent in the last reservoir. By exposing a much larger radiating-coil surface to the atmosphere the evaporating-pan can be dispensed with.

Each of the chambers is provided with a vacuum or pressure gage, P, and with the usual glass liquid level gages, p. Suitable means are provided, as by the pipes q, having valves q, for connecting the interior of the surface-condensers D with an exhaust pump or pumps for withdrawing the air preparatory to commencing the operation. Each evaporating-chamber is also provided with a'pipe, G, and valve 9 for effecting the discharge of the liquid contained therein when desired. The lower extremities of the discharge-pipes G, attached to the vacuum-condensers, enter suitable tanksior receptacles, y, of sufficient capacity to-contain a quantity of fluid at least as large as that which is required to fill the discharge-pipes-G, which latter are of sufficient length to maintain the vacuum in the cylinders, as before described, in connection with the pipes D.

I design in somecases to convey the liquid of condensation from each condenser directly to the evaporating-pan S, for the purpose of finishing the process of concentration or precipitation. When the liquid of condensation from a number of condensers is thus conveyed to the evaporating-pan S, the accumulation of such liquid will be rapid and a comparatively large surface of pan will be required and more heat needed than will be derived from the closed circulation through the pipes s 8, condenser C &c. In order to insure, as far as possible, the evaporation of the liquid in the pan at an equal rate with that effected in the several chambers G, I pass the products of combustion escaping from the boiler-furnace H through a shallow wide flue, S extending underneath the whole length of the evaporaping-pan.

It will thus be seen that practically all the heat generated within the furnace H is utilized in performing work, except the small percentage necessarily lost by radiation and that which escapes from under the evaporating-pan.

In charging my apparatus for use I fill the last condensing-chamber,GZand the system of pipes s 8 through the expansion-tank S. The

other chambers O are charged by opening their individual inlet-valves 0, so that liquid may enter from the supply pipe or pipes 61, connected with one or more elevated reservoirs, A. In the drawings but a single reservoir, A, and supply-pipe a are shown; but where difi'erent liquids are under simultaneous treatment independent reservoirs andsupplypipes will be provided for each liquid. In any case, the valve 0 and the main valve (1 being opened, the liquid rises through the pipes c 0 0 into all the evaporating-chambers (except the last one, 0 until the proper level is attained and the floats 0 close the valves 0, the air displaced during this operation escaping from the apparatus through the dischargepipes D. The plugs a in the discharge ends of the U-reservoir U are then removed and the said reservoirs filled to the desired level. The valves q in the pipes (1 connecting with the vacuum-pumps are next opened and the pumps operated until the desired degree of vacuum is indicated by the gages P,when the valves q are again closed. The cooling-liquid or liquid to be evaporated is supplied to the evaporating-pan S. Steam may now be admitted to the first condenser, D, by opening the valve h in the steam-pipe h,connected with the boiler H, when the operation will proceed continuously and automatically throughout the entire system, as hereinbefore set forth, provided the valves h h are open and valves h 5 Before discharging the liquid contained in the chambers O G, 850., the tanks y are filled to the proper level with a sufficient quantity of liquid of the same character.

The vaporizing-chambers and all connect ing-pipes are insulated with respect to heat as perfectly as possible by sheathing with asbestus, hair felt, mineral wool, or other good non-conductors, to the end that the smallest possible amount of caloric be lost by radiation.

1 What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for distilling or concentrating liquids, substantially such as designated, a condensing-chamber provided with a discharge-pipe for conveying the liquid of con densation therefrom,which pipe passes through a liquid-jacket in such manner as to be free to expand and contract with relation to a stationary valve-seat, substantially in the manner 2 5 and for the purpose described, in combination with an evaporating-chamber inclosing the said condenser, and connected with the said liquid-jacket in such manner that the latter constitutes a portion of its feed-service through o which the condensing'liquid or liquid to be evaporated passes before entering the said evap Oratingchamber, the Whole arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

5 2. I11 combination with an evaporatingchamber containing a surface-condenser, substantially such as described, the series or coil of elevated pipes connected at one extremity to the upper part of the evaporating-chamber and at the other extremity to the lower part of the evaporating-chamber, and provided with an expansion-chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the evaporating- 5 pan provided with a series or coil of pipes connected with the last evaporating-chamber in the series, the flue situated immediately under the said evaporating-pan, and connected at one end with the boiler-furnace and at the other with the discharge-flue, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

4. In an apparatus for distilling or concentratingliquids, substantially such as described,

the combination,with a surface-condenser provided with a discharge-pipe which is free to expand and contract under changes in temperature, of a stationary valve-seat or cut'off arranged in relation to the said discharge-pipe in such manner as to limit the area of the aperture through which the liquid of condensation is discharged, substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose described.

5.- In an apparatus for distilling and concentrating liquids, substantially such as described, a low-pressure or vacuum condenser contained in a vaporizing-chamber,a Torricellian tube for effecting the discharge of the liquid of condensation without impairing the low pressure or vacuum, and a liquid-supply jacket surrounding the said Torricellian tube, and connected with the supply of condensingliquid below and the vaporizing chamber above, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

6. Inan apparatus for distilling and concentrating liquids, substantially such as described, the combination,with a series of evaporating and condensing chambers arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described, of means for boiling the liquid to be treated, and recooling the same by causing it to impart its excess of heat to the feed-liquid, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

7. In an apparatus for distilling and concentrating liquids, substantially such as described, the combination, with a vaporizingchamber containing a surface-condenser, of a Torricellian dischargetube provided with a a cut-off valve, and connected with the said vaporizing-chamber above, and with. a suitable liquid-seal below, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

8. In an apparatus for distilling and concentrating liquids, substantially such as described, the combination, with a high-pressure vaporizing-chamber and a low-pressure surface-condenser, of a pressure-regulator interposed in the pipe by which they are connected, substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose described.

GASSIUS O. PEGK.

WVit-nesses:

WM. GARDNER, GEO. W. MIATT. 

